Bulletproof booth



Aug. 27, 1929. N. DUBBERLY BULLETPROOF BOOTH Filed July 19, 1928 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES NEAL DUBBERLY, or COLORADO, TEXAS.

BULLETPROOF BOOTH.

Application fi1ed July 19,

This invention relates to a bullet proof booth adapted to be installed or built in banks or tlielike and to safely house a guard or attendant, means being provided for permitting the guard to fire upon robbers from within the booth so as to proteirt the bank or the like against attempted robberies.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved booth of the above kind which may be readily built or erected at an advantageous point in the bank or the like, and which is of extremely simple and practical construction although affording complete protection to the guard when in use.

A further object is to provide means to permit the guard to fire upon robbers within a relatively wide range, and at the same time to present a minimum possibility of the guard being struck by a bullet fired from the firearms of the robber.

The invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bullet proof booth embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational View thereof, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical section on line l -i of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 66 of Figure 8.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present booth is preferably of sector shape in top plan or horizontal section as shown in Figures l to 3, and has flat top, bottom and side walls, andan outwardly curved arcuate front wall suitably associated and joined to form a complete enclosure, said walls being respectively indicated at 5, 6, 7 and 8. As shown, these walls are formed of double-wall formation and consist of suitably spaced and connected wall members of steel calculated to effectively resist penetration by bullets.

The front wall 8 or the major portion thereof is hinged as at 9 to form a horizontally swinging door which may be readily opened for permitting the guard to enter 1928. Serial No. 293,883.

or leave the booth, and suitable means is provided at 10 to latch the door in closed position. This latch is preferably normally releasable from the exterior of the booth, although means may be provided for locking the same from the interior of the booth under the manual control of the guard positioned within the latter. A suitable ventilm tor 11 is preferably provided in the top Wall 5 for the free entrance of fresh air and exit of foul air as will be obviously desirable.

Provided in the front wall or door 8 is a relatively long horizontally elongated port hole or opening 12, and mounted within the booth directly behind this port hole and in the corner when the side walls 7 join, is a seat 13. The port hole 12 is located at a height which will enable the guard to readily and conveniently fire therethrough while occupying the seat 13, and due to the arcuate form of the front wall or door and the'elongated horizontal position of the port hole 12, a relatively wide firing range is had, thereby enabling the guard to fire upon robbers located at substantially any point within the main portion of the bank where business is conducted.

Mounted on the outside of the front wall or door 8 above and extending beyond op-' posite sides of the port hole 12 is a horizontally disposed guide rail or track bar 14 on which is suspended for free lateral adjustment a bullet shield 15 embodying a steel plate of suflicient size to cover the port hole 12 in any of its positions of lateral adjustment. The guide bar or rail 14L is preferably rigidly supported at its ends by outwardly projecting hanger bolts or supporting arms 16 bolted or otherwise rigidly fas toned to the front wall or door 8 at opposite sides of the port hole 12 as well as above the latter. As shown, the bullet shield 15 is provided with a central opening 17 adapted to constantly register with a portion of the port hole 12 so that the bullet may pass therethrough after passing through said port hole. This opening 17 is relatively small so as to minimize the likelihood ofbullets passing therethrough'into the booth when the guard is fired upon by the robbers. To aid the guard in firing through the opening 17 and for improving his aim in shooting at the robbers, the opening 17 preferably communicates at the top thereof with a narrow sight notch or slot 18. As shown clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 5, a pair of hanger brackets 19 are preferably secured to the rear side of the bullet shield 15 to adjacent opposite side edges thereof, and journaled in each bracket 19 in spaced superposed. relation are a pair of guide rollers 20 adapted to engage and roll upon the upper and lower sides of the guide rail or bar 14 to facilitate the lateral adjustment of the bullet shield. Obviously, the guard may engage the barrel of his firearm in the opening 17 and thereby adjust the bullet shield laterally in either direction to the desired position. The brackets 19 are preferably mounted on the back of the shield 15 above the center of gravity of the latter so that it will normally occupy an incline position extending downwardly an i toward the front wall 8 for more effectively deflecting the bullets striking thereagainst. The shield is simply shown vertically positioned in the drawing for sake of clearness.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the advantages and manner of use of the invention will be at once apparent. However, it is briefly noted that the guard may enter the booth and close the door 8, and by keeping watch through the port hole 12 and opening 17 while occupying the seat 13, he may readily note the entrance of robbers into the bank or any attempt on the part of such to hold up the paying tellers or the like. By then opening fire upon the robbers, the attempted holdup may be frustrated, the guard being effectively protected against injury or being shot, as will be apparent. A spring 21 may be utilized to normally yieldingly close the door 8 so that the guard will not be required to stop and close the same when entering it in a hurry.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A bullet proof booth of the character described having a front wall provided with a horizontally elongated port hole, and a freely laterally adjustable bullet shield mounted on the front wall in front of said port hole and havinga relatively small firing opening arranged for constant registry with said port hole in the several positions -of lateral adjustment of the bullet shield, a

hole in the several positions of lateral adjustment of the bullet shield, a guide bar rigidly mounted on the outside of said front wall above the port hole and extending to opposite sides of the latter, supporting and guiding rollers mounted on the back of the bullet shield and running on said guide bar, said bullet shield being mounted on the guide bar above its horizontal center of gravity and being free to swing for assuming a downwardly and inwardly inclined position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NEAL DUBBERLY. 

